Local Connection: Aloha Aulani!

It may not have seemed that way recently when three executives were fired. They did the math wrong and set Aulani maintenance fees too low to pay for upkeep. That debacle notwithstanding, Disney has a long reputation of being well-managed.

Business students study Disney's concept of employee-as-cast-member. So it's worth examining Disney's decision to open, here, its first hotel not tied to a theme park.

Disney hasn't revealed all it's inside thinking, but I think I know why. Hawaii is the theme park.

Hawaii is the attraction - a beautiful place with attractive people - and the theme is aloha.

Once you see that, you see why Disney came here. And you see how every hotel here has the same potential.

Every employee needs to think like a cast member, help the guest experience the theme. It works for Disney, yes, but it can also work for a budget hotel on Kuhio, or a hotel in Lahaina or Hilo.

Share the culture, share the scenery. It's all real, and it's all good.

When we asked Governor David Ige if he could beat Colleen Hanabusa in a potential match-up in 2018, he didn't hesitate with this response. "Certainly. I believe that I will be successful for any of those candidates that are considering it," he said. While Ige says he's sure he could win reelection in 2018, he says he doesn't know why powerful democratic forces are looking to defeat him with a candidate like Hanabusa in the primary election next August. "I don't know....

When we asked Governor David Ige if he could beat Colleen Hanabusa in a potential match-up in 2018, he didn't hesitate with this response. "Certainly. I believe that I will be successful for any of those candidates that are considering it," he said. While Ige says he's sure he could win reelection in 2018, he says he doesn't know why powerful democratic forces are looking to defeat him with a candidate like Hanabusa in the primary election next August. "I don't know....